Growth of green onions in a weak permanent magnetic field

Effect of a weak permanent magnetic field (PMF) with a strength of 403 A/m on Allium cepa L. bulb sprouting and leaf growth was investigated. Two onion varieties to produce green onions (cv. Arzamasskii) and bulb onions (cv. Ryazanskii) were examined. In addition, the content of chlorophyll, carbohydrates, and protein in the leaves of the control and PMF-treated plants were determined. The plants of the control group were grown under a natural geomagnetic field. The treatment of onions with PMF accelerated sprouting and extended the length of the fourth leaf in cv. Arzamasskii as much as 40%; the first leaf in cv. Ryazanskii was lengthened by 25% with respect to its length in untreated plants. Exposure to PMF increased the number of sprouts in cv. Ryazanskii and the number of sprout bunches in cv. Arzamasskii. In addition, PMF elevated the total content of chlorophyll and protein, expressed per fresh weight of green onions, but had no effect on the total content of carbohydrates. Conversely, PMF reliably reduced the total content of chlorophyll and protein in cv. Ryazanskii. The temperature increase diminished the effects of PMF.